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High-Five Friday

Five happy things from my week: 1. Really good writing week. Really good. And I intend to have a good writing weekend too. I’m getting better at making my writing time a priority and not feeling (too) guilty about it. It helps that I’m waiting for the next batch of my current proofreading project to arrive. It sure is easier to devote time to writing when it doesn’t have to compete with work obligations. 2. I’m getting a free book! I love free books. There are five books coming out this year that I’m already looking forward to reading: Silksinger by Laini Taylor (the sequel to Blackbringer), Lips Touch also by Laini Taylor (I think this is going to be a good year for her), the sequel to Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.… Read the rest

High-Five Friday

1. Well, I’ll be! There’s someone checking in on this blog. (I’m guessing. . . Mom?) So a high five to anonymous for the push on the tush to stop neglecting this space. 2. I just saw a sneak peak of my friend Rachel’s second picture book Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi, (out next spring I believe). Beautiful! Beautiful, beautiful. I am so excited for her. It is going to be another gorgeous book. Her first book Through Georgia’s Eyes is a real gem. It’s the story of the life of Georgia O’Keeffe. Rachel has a knack for telling these artists’ stories in a simple and poetic fashion.… Read the rest

Meeting Shannon Hale!

I’m visiting my parents in the Bay Area and my trip fortunately coincided with an appearance by Shannon Hale and Libba Bray in San Francisco through the Not Your Mother’s Book Club. Yay! Their tour won’t be going to Colorado so I was super excited to get the chance to see them. Most especially Ms. Hale. I love, love, love The Princess Academy. Such a great book. I bought her latest one too, but I haven’t had the chance to read it yet although I’ve heard many good things. My mom went with me to the reading and we had a fun day in the city.… Read the rest

Pulling Up a Chair

Have you heard of The Grotto? No, not the one of Playboy Mansion fame. The writer’s grotto in San Francisco. It’s a collaborative workspace filled entirely with writers and filmmakers, started initially by Po Bronson, Ethan Watters, and Ethan Canin. I love this idea—an office of artists. Maybe not financially feasible for most, but I love the idea of having a place to go every day where I’d have my own work space and could get writing done, but also have regular, in-person access to a community of like-minded, creative individuals. This was one of my favorite things about the SCBWI summer conference: The sense of community.… Read the rest